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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Turning Babies into Goblins

Tuesday was David Bowie Day in Chicago. A new holiday we
have bestowed upon the great man in honor of the new exhibit “David Bowie Is”
at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The
show is a retrospective of his work in music and in film.

While I wasn’t able to attend the gala that opened the show
(because it was $3,000 a ticket), I did manage to find something I have been
searching for. Red and white stripe onesies with feet.

Baby goblin in the making.

If I have to explain why this is so exciting to you, then
you need to immediately put down the computer and drag your shameful self over
to the television and watch Labyrinth on repeat until you

understand why I
bought two of them.

My twins have one piece of art hanging in their room and it’s
the Labyrinth movie poster. That’s it. No clever quotes about growing up strong
or pictures of the family. Hell, I haven’t even managed to get pro shots of the
little rugrats taken yet. But there is Bowie. The Goblin King stares at them
while they sleep. So of course I did what any loving, doting, vaguely psychotic
mother who is obsessed with the Labyrinth and in love with Bowie would do. I
bought them onesies that look just like Toby’s.

These kids have about a snowball’s chance in hell of being
normal.

He watches over them as they sleep.

Sure, they’re probably actually Christmas onesies, but I’m
really hoping to arrange some kind of photo shoot with Jareth and my girls in their Toby outfits. I may even see if
I can find a small saddle for the dog, or at least toss him in as a goblin. He’s
kind of goblin looking.

If anyone is up for helping me with this nightmare dream, let me know.

When I was younger I always thought being the Goblin Queen
would be pretty amazing. You get a castle, that crying baby brother would be
gone (I would have traded my little sister in a minute for that opportunity), and you
get to wear pretty dresses and hang out with Jareth, his amazing hair and codpiece all day. Presumably
singing and dancing.

Turns out life isn’t quite that easy, and Labyrinth may not
actually be Bowie’s best movie, but there’s
something magical about being able to share the thing you loved as a child with
your own children. Even if it is just in the form of playing dress-up and they don't quite understand what you're doing to them yet.

Now if only I can find that white ball gown...

******

If you're in the Chicago area I encourage you to check out the exhibit at the MCA. They're also having a David Bowie film fest October 18-19. Or just stay home and Netflix them all.